483 Availability of technical guidance

Availability of Technical Guidance

[27 Pa.B. 1606]

Governor's Office List

   Once a year on the first Saturday in August, the Governor's Office publishes a list of the non-regulatory guidance documents of all State agencies in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The first publication of this list was in the August 3, 1996, edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The next publication of this list will be in the August 2, 1997, Pennsylvania Bulletin.

DEP's Technical Guidance Document Inventory

   DEP publishes a list of its technical guidance documents in its Technical Guidance Document Inventory twice a year. The most recent edition of the Inventory is the December 1996 edition. This edition is now available on DEP's World Wide Web site. DEP's Web address is http://www.dep.state.pa.us. To go to the location of the Inventory once on the DEP home page, persons should choose the Public Participation Center/Technical Guidance Document/Basic Inventory.

   Bound paper copies of the Inventory are available now for those who do not have access to the Web site. DEP automatically mails a paper copy of the December 1996 Inventory to persons who received a bound paper copy of the June 1996 Inventory. Persons who wish to add their address to the mailing list should call Nina Huizinga at [phone].

DEP's Technical Guidance Documents on the World Wide Web

   DEP's Web address is http://www.dep.state.pa.us. To go to the location of DEP's Technical Guidance Documents once on the DEP home page, persons should choose the Public Participation Center. The Center contains several links to DEP's Technical Guidance Documents. Persons should look under the heading ''Proposals Open to Comment'' for the link to ''Draft Technical Guidance.'' Persons should look under the heading ''Proposals Recently Finalized'' for the link to ''Technical Guidance.'' Persons should look under the heading ''Technical Guidance'' for one link to the ''Basic Inventory'' and a second link to ''Final Guidance.'' The final documents menu will list DEP's bureaus. Persons should click on the name of the bureau to get to the list of the documents from that bureau that are currently on the Web. Then, to get to see a document persons should click on the ID number of the document. DEP will be adding its revised documents to the Web throughout 1997.

Help Protect the Environment:  Use the Web and Save Trees

   DEP encourages members of the public who read these announcements in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and DEP's UPDATE and who have access to the World Wide Web to avoid the needless duplication of paper copies of DEP's technical guidance documents. Persons can download those DEP documents which are posted on DEP's Web site onto their computers and read them electronically. This method saves both paper and money.

Ordering Paper Copies of DEP Technical Guidance

   Although DEP promotes the use of electronic copies of its technical guidance rather than paper copies, there are still reasons for DEP to continue to provide members of the public with paper copies:  1) It may be more convenient to use some documents in a paper form, 2) Not everyone has access to the World Wide Web and 3) Not all DEP documents are on DEP's Web site yet. Persons can order an unbound paper copy of the latest Inventory or an unbound paper copy of any of the final documents listed on the Inventory by calling Elwyn, Inc. (the printer) at 1 [phone] if calling in Pennsylvania or [phone] if calling from outside Pennsylvania. Elwyn's fax number is [phone].

   In addition, bound copies of some of DEP's documents are available as DEP publications. Persons should check with the appropriate bureau for more information about the availability of a particular document as a publication.

Changes to Technical Guidance Documents

   Between publication of its Inventory, DEP announces changes to its technical guidance documents in its weekly newsletter, the UPDATE and the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Here is the current list of recently finalized documents, draft documents and notices of intended changes to technical guidance.

   Persons who have any questions or comments about a particular document should call the contact person whose name and phone number is listed with each document. Persons who have questions or comments about the Inventory, the documents on the World Wide Web, the availability of paper copies from the printer or the technical guidance document process in general should call Nina Huizinga at [phone].

Final Technical Guidance

   DEP ID:  563-2504-451. Title:  Bonding, Anthracite Underground Mines. Description:  This guidance documents the procedures DEP applies for bonding anthracite underground mines. Effective Date:  July 27, 1994. Page Length:  2 pages. Location:  Volume 12, Tab 69. Contact:  Harold Miller at [phone].

Draft Technical Guidance

   DEP ID:  391-3200-009. Title:  Pennsylvania's Ground Water Quality Monitoring Network:  Ambient and Fixed Station Network (FSN) Monitoring Programs. Background: This document is a revision and combination of the following two documents:  Guidance for Ambient Ground Water Quality Surveys and Guidance for Establishing Fixed Station Monitoring Networks. This document updates the procedures and approaches of the ground water quality monitoring program while providing for more flexibility for the regional water management programs. Deadline for Submittal of Comments:  April 30, 1997. Contact:  James Ulanoski at [phone].

   DEP ID:  562-2112-315 BMR PGM 1:03:15. Title: Prompt Closure of Abandoned Underground Mine Openings. Background:  This policy guidance is to be used by DEP staff for notifying mine operators of their responsibility to secure and seal mine openings and taking prompt enforcement against those operators who refuse to perform the required mine closure work. The policy document will also address instances where DEP is forced to perform the closure work and subsequently moves to recover expended funds. Deadline for Submittal of Comments:  April 15, 1997. Contact:  Thomas Callaghan at [phone].

   DEP ID:  700-5600-001. Title:  Guidance for Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency Site Visits. Background: DEP will provide, upon request, multimedia pollution prevention energy efficiency site visits to the regulated community. This effort is an initiative of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance. Deadline for Submittal of Comments:  April 30, 1997. Contact:  Robert Zaccano at [phone] for questions. Contact:  Barbara Yuricich at [phone] for a copy of the draft.

Notice of Intent to Rescind Technical Guidance

   DEP ID:  361-3200-014. Title:  Guidance for Establishing Fixed Station Monitoring Networks. Reason for Rescission:  This document is being revised and combined into 391-3200-009 (see above under Draft Technical Guidance). Contact:  James Ulanoski at [phone].

Notice of Intent to Revise Technical Guidance

   DEP ID:  364-5511-003. Title:  Wage Rate Determina- tions/Water Pollution Control Revolving Projects. Background: This policy is a guide for DEP staff in determining, requesting and then providing the appropriate Federal U. S. Labor Department Wage determinations applicable to projects being constructed with funds from Pennsylvania's Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (WPCRF) authorized and capitalized with Federal funds under Title VI of the Federal Clean Water Act. This policy lacks clar- ity in some sections. It also needs to meet DEP's standard format requirements. Anticipated Effective Date:  August 1997. Contact:  Bob Gibson at [phone].

   DEP ID:  364-5511-009. Title:  Recreation and Open Space Opportunities--PENNVEST Funded Projects. Background:  This document describes the roles and responsibilities of DEP staff and the project sponsor in the planning process. This document needs to be amended to address revisions to PENNVEST regulations (Chapters 963 and 965) and revised to meet DEP's standard format requirements. Anticipated Effective Date:  August 1997. Contact:  Bob Gibson at [phone].

JAMES M. SEIF,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-483. Filed for public inspection March 28, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]